Actress Nikki M. James won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her work in “The Book of Mormon.”It was her first nomination and her first win. James wore a red, sweeping gown by Giambattista Valli, and her emotional speech moved the audience.

Speakeasy caught up with James just after the Tonys to talk about her big win.

Congratulations!

Thank you very, very much. I feel incredible. Being nominated was amazing and this is even better than that. The only thing that makes me feel a little sad is I can’t share this acting award with my co-stars, who are incredible, and I’m only as good as they are. So, I’m very happy to work with them, and they make me look really good.

Is it true you didn’t prepare a speech?

The truth of the matter is, I’ve wanted this moment for so long, I fantasized what I was going to say my whole life. I didn’t prepare a speech. I did not expect to win. So I spoke from my heart. I have no idea what it sounded like. People keep on saying they thought it was nice. I do remember threatening that I wouldn’t leave the stage.

Your show did very well tonight.

We did. I think we took eight awards, which doesn’t beat The Producers but it’s pretty damn good.

Are you all going to party?

We are. I’m here for a few minutes to thank the voters, the [Broadway] League, and the [American] Theatre Wing, and then I’m going to go celebrate with my Mormons.

What does this mean for you personally, to win this award?

[pause] It’s hard to say. It’s like being blessed with the acknowledgement of the hard work that both myself and my mother and my family have put in to allow me to have this incredible career. My mother is an immigrant from Haiti, my father is an immigrant from St. Vincent, they met here in the U.S. in Queens, had a family, worked their asses off to raise us in the suburbs, and I grew up to want to be an actor instead of a doctor. So I feel pretty awesome that this is proof positive that I’ve made the right decision. I probably would have been a pretty sh— doctor and I’m apparently a pretty decent actress.

You referred to your father in your speech.

Yes, he passed away when I was in high school. I wish I could have said more. He was my biggest fan and my biggest hero, and I miss him very much. It’s bittersweet to not be able to share these moments with him, but I know he’s here.

What’s next for you?

Eight shows this week, and then eight after that, and then a nine-show week. Then eight more shows. I can only see as far as that, which is not such a bad thing. If I hadn’t won this award tonight, doing my show every night is gift enough.

About Speakeasy

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